Tie tamper



Oct, 5, 1943.

J. o. SURPRENA-NT,

TIE TAMPER Filed Aug. 9, 1941 dzse Zdsmprezzznf Patented Oct. 5, 1943 UNITED STATES PATEN T1; OFFICE 2 331,148 TIE JosephO. Surprenant, Schenectady, N. Y. Application Augusti), 1941, Serial No. 406,193

'3 Claims. 01. 104-10) This invention relates to a tie tamper, andit is'primarily an object of the invention toiprovide a device of this kind which is attached directly to a rail in close proximity to a tie so that the undulations or waving motions of the rail incident to rolling stock passing thereover will result in such action of the tamper to effectively force and pack the bed ballast underneath the tie.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a device of this kind which operates substantially automatically as a stoker bar to tamp all kinds of ballast as comprises in a railroad bed, but more particularly stone ballast, beneath a tie and thereby assure proper maintenance of the right of way at all times.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts of my improved tie tamper whereby certain important advantages are attained, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

In order'that my invention may be the better understood, I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary view, partly in side elevation and partly in section, illustrating a tie tamper constructed in accordance with an embodiment of my invention, and in applied or Working position;

Figure 2 is a detailed sectional view taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrow; and

Figure 3 is a view in perspective of the tie tamper as herein comprised and unapplied.

As disclosed in the accompanying drawing, R

denotes a conventional rail for a trackway and,

which is held to the usual tie T. As illustrated in the accompanying drawing, the rail R and the tie T have interposed therebetween a tie plate P, as now generally used, and through which are directed the holding spikes S for the rail R.

My improved tamper as hereinembodied comprises a flat bar I of desired length and width, said bar being flat fromend to end and with the flat faces of the bar substantially horizontal. This bar I is formed of suitable metal possessing requisite strength and rigidity, and the ends of the bar I are continued by the upwardly disposed and converging arms 2 and 3, said arms 2 and 3 being herein disclosed as integral with the bar I. The arms 2 and 3 are of a width in excess of the bar I but the inner edges a of the armsZ and 3-and' the inner edge b of the barI are; substantially coplanar withthev excess width of the armsl ,and 3bcing disposed beyond the outer edge 0 of the bar I-. Thelower extremities of the arms 2 and 3, at their outer sides-and immediately adjacent to the bar I, are inwardly beveled, as at 4, toprovide what may be termed wedge portions for a purpose to be hereinafter more particularly mentioned. The arm 3; at its upper or free end portion, is continued by an outwardly directed short arm 5, and the similar end of the arm 2 is also provided with an outwardly disposed short arm 6. These arms 5 and 5 are substantially aligned and substantially parallel to the bar I. The outer portion of the arm 5 is provided with an upstanding flange I, the upper marginal portion of which being defined by an inwardly disposed and up-- wardly inclined flange 8. One of the base flanges 9 of the rail R is tightly engaged between the arms 5 and the flange 8 when the tamper is in applied position. The second flange I0 of the rail R is tightly engaged between the short arm 6 carried by the arm 3 and the inwardly disposed flange II carried by the upstanding plate I2 at the outer end of the arm 6. The inner portion of this flange II is provided with an upstanding lip I4 which provides means for facilitating the application of the tamper to a rail R. or removal therefrom.

It is to be particularly pointed out that the tamper is secureddirectly to the rail R and depends therefrom so that the tamper will have up and down movement in accordance with theundulations or waving action imposed upon the rail R as rolling stock passes thereover. It is also to be particularly noted that the arms 2 and 3 are of such lengths as to position the bar I slightly below the bottom face of the tie T or is disposed below the level of the bottom surface of the tie and adjacent thereto and, as is particularly illustrated in Figure 1, it is to be noted that the tamper when applied to the rail R is closely adjacent to but free of contact with a side face of the tie I8. The tamper is also preferably positioned to what may be termed the aft side of the tie, as determined by the major portion of the flow of traflic over the trackway.

When the rolling stock passesover the rail the resultant waving action or undulations of the rail R will correspondingly raise and lower the applied tam-per, As the tamper moves upwardly the ballast will drop below the bar I and on the downward movement this bar I will force or throw the loose material of the ballast, such as stone, underneath the tie. This action of the tamper, and particularly on the downward movement, is further facilitated by the wedging action afforded by the margins 4, and the functioning of the tamper is further facilitated by having the bar I positioned slightly below the tie T. In view of the foregoing it is believed to be readily understood that the tamper operates in a manner to provide what may be termed an automatic stoker tamper bar.

From the foregoing description it is thought to be obvious that a tie tamper constructed in accordance with my invention is particularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled and operated.

I claim:

1. A device for tamping ballast beneath a. rail supporting tie comprising an elongated flat tamping bar and means for directly and rigidly attaching said bar to the rail and free of any other connection, with said bar closely adjacent to the tie and entirely below the tie and with said bar disposed laterally of the rail with its flat faces substantially horizontal.

2. A device for tamping ballast beneath a rail supporting tie comprising an elongated tamping bar, angularly related arms carried by the extremities of the bar, and means carried by said arms for rigidly anchoring the same to the base flanges of the rail to position the tamping bar directly below the rail and disposed in a direction laterally of the rail, said arms being of a length to position the tamping bar entirely below the tie.

3. A device for tamping ballast beneath a rail supporting tie comprising an elongated tamping bar, angularly related arms carried by the extremities of the bar, and means carried by said arms for rigidly anchoring the same to the base flanges of the rail to position the tamping bar entirely below the rail and disposed in a direction laterally of the rail, said arms being of a length to position the tamping bar entirely below but adjacent to the tie, said arms immediately adjacent to the bar having edges formed to 'provide wedges.

JOSEPH O. SURPREN ANT. 

